CROSSING PATHS IN AMERICA & INDIA: MEMORIES, ESSAYS, REVIEWS

Category Biographies & Memoirs
Format Paperback
Imprint Rupa
Price 495

ISBN: 978-93-6156-176-4
Pages: 336 pages
Date: 5th December 2024

ABOUT THIS BOOK

A memoir of learning, involvements, and teaching…
Leonard Gordon tracks his connection to India beginning in the 1960s as he became an outsider/ insider in its society visiting often over six decades. His entry into the study of nationalism and imperialism was rooted in his coming of age in a left-wing family in New York and his family’s friendship with a pioneer of South Asians in the U.S., Kumar Goshal.In India he formed friendships with many notables depicted vividly here including P. Lal, Jamini Roy, Sunil Das, Satyajit Ray, Nikhil Chakravartty, Nirad C. Chaudhuri, Krishna and Sisir Bose. When he had to fight to obtain an Indian research visa in 1972, his friends helped him reverse the government’s decision denying him entry.
Starting from a study of nationalism in Bengal and the relation of Bengalis to Gandhi, he focused in on Subhas and Sarat Bose, writing Brothers against the Raj. Carrying out research in 14 countries, he brought their worlds to life.
In this captivating memoir, Gordon shares a deeply personal journey through the landscapes of two vibrant nations—India and America. Navigating through anecdotes, letters, and articles, the Gordon offers an intimate glimpse into the cultural, social, and political nuances that have shaped their life and work. With profound insights and a deep emotional connection, this memoir captures the essence of the author’s involvement in both countries, revealing a life dedicated to understanding and bridging the complexities of East and West. This is a reflective, engaging narrative that resonates with curiosity and wisdom.

AUTHOR OF THE BOOK

Leonard A. Gordon was educated in the public schools in New York City, at Amherst College and at Harvard University. His book, Bengal: The Nationalist Movement (1974) was awarded the Watumull Prize of the American Historical Association. Brothers against the Raj: A Biography of Indian Nationalists Sarat and Subhas Bose was published in 1990 and an abridged version (2014) is available from Rupa. He was co-editor of The Sources of Indian Tradition, 1700-the present. His friendships in India and concern for the relations of the U.S. and India led him to the directorship of the Taraknath Das Foundation. For 36 years (1985 to 2021) this enabled him to help give grants to Indian students in the U.S., support a research center at Jadavpur University, small grants to invaluable NGOs in India, and give an annual award to South Asians and Americans who tied the U.S. and India together.